Week 118.
Elder Advice likes words. Last week he found a new favourite -“hleahtor-smip” (pronounced HLEAHTOR- smith). A word from Old English, it is ”laughter-smith” - in principle like a blacksmith, but a story-teller and entertainer. It is a word Elder Advice hopes will, in the dim and distant future, figure prominently on his headstone.
A favourite client of mine is a goldsmith who told me he became a proud dad last week. Actually, his son is eighteen but, up to now, he has been a nasty little shit.
Apparently, the lad’s first university essay received the following critique: “Your essay is both original and good. Regrettably, the part that is good is not original and the part that is original … not good.” Memorably, the client reports his son took the unveiled criticism in stride and has undertaken, both to his parents and to that wordsmith of a professor, that he will do better. Elder Advice thought for a moment that his ears deceived him. At a time when claims of harm from language - part of the toxic brew of self-regard, fragility, demands for safe spaces and victimhood - prevails in all public discourse, a person who makes no faux claims, admits his failings candidly, takes responsibility for them and announces an intention to improve … well … Elder Advice thought perhaps we did not turn the clocks forward an hour last week, but backward. By 50 years or more.
Words matter. Even though, in the end, they are only words, not sticks and stones. That all reasonable, good-faith effort be made to select the right ones, and to use them precisely, cannot be controversial. Which makes the increasing misuse of inflammatory language, like “anti-semitic” and “racist”, a concern to Elder Advice.
In a recent by-election in Hamilton, the candidate who ultimately won was the subject of relentless accusations of anti-semitism. The statements reported were - unsurprising from a member of the NDP - naively and vaguely supportive of the Palestinian cause and highly critical of the Israeli government. While there was related, inarticulate rambling by the candidate reported at the same time, Elder Advice could find nothing that could reasonably be construed as “anti-semitic”. Which is a word that has always confused him. Given Arabs are also Semitic people. And so are Assyrians - although no one seems to have anything rude to say about them these days. The candidate’s statements then, were arguably “pro-semitic”. In any event, there are more than enough despicable anti-Jewish statements and activities these days that one need not engage in speculation. More to the point, few have been more vocal in their criticism of the Israeli government, especially in these past few weeks, than Israelis.
Those who equate criticism of a nation’s government as unacceptable criticism of its people fall into the trap laid by, among others, the Chinese government. A government whose principal nonsense is that any criticism of it is somehow racist. And which actually accused Canada of “white supremacy” when the federal government meekly asked for the release of the two Michaels Beijing had kidnapped. Long suffering readers may also recall Elder Advice Week 64 and the federal government’s egregious efforts at deflection in June 2021, when serious questions arose as to how Chinese researchers from the People’s Liberation Army were granted full access to Canada’s highest security infectious disease facility - the level 4 National Microbiology Laboratory. “The rise in anti-Asian racism we have been seeing over the past number of months should be of concern to everyone,” Justin piously intoned. “I would recommend that the members of the Conservative Party, in their zeal to make personal attacks, not start to push too far into intolerance toward Canadians of diverse origins.” Conservative MP Michael Chong’s appropriate reply was: “Beijing has long had a goal of combining criticism of the government of China with anti-Asian racism and the Prime Minister played right into their hands.” and “Those critical of China’s government are not causing anti-Asian racism. Many of them are Asian themselves.” Right. One can be sensitive to, and call out, actual racism and at the same time be critical of, in this case, an Asian government and rogue state. And those who panda to it.
Elder Advice could not help but think back to that Trudeau/Chong exchange in 2021 as we are forced to listen, two years later, to the same absurd accusations of racism from a government desperate to avoid any inquiry into the extent of Chinese government interference in Canadian electoral processes and its influence in the Liberal Party.
Elder Advice? The right words are simple: You can be fiercely critical of everything that others can change.
Governments, cultural and religious practices, ideas - are all fair game. Nationality, race, age, gender and orientation are not. Criticizing hair colour is somewhere in between. Because frankly, the gingers are really asking for it.
And everyone must recognize that the first list is infinitely longer than the second. To the point that the things of which you cannot be critical is a list of exceptions to the rule.
Conversely, you cannot avoid criticism of those things you can change by claiming that every statement you simply do not like is “anti-semitic” or “racist” or, while we are on the subject,“sexist.”
Words matter. In the end, they are only words, not sticks and stones but the principle that all reasonable, good-faith effort be made to select the right ones, and to use them precisely, cannot be controversial. Something Elder Advice has said recently, but which bears repeating. And that cannot be a rule only for those labelled “linguistic snobs.”
And Elder Advice is not a snob. Ask anyone. Well … anyone who matters.